The Porsche 912E (E for Einspritzung—fuel injection) is a one-year-only (1976) model, based on the 911S of that year, with a 4 cylinder Type IV Porsche/VW engine. Sold only in the USA, Porsche produced only 2099 of these cars, before it was replaced by their newest try at an entry-level model, the front-engine 924.

The fittings were slightly simpler in this model “although in terms of materials, trim and finishing the 912E is of high Porsche quality”, decided American Road & Track magazine. Their test driver notched a 9.7 second 0-60 time, calling the “E” the prototypical road car: “comfortable where the (Turbo) Carrera is harsh, rational where the Carrera is excessive.”

The year was 1975. Porsche’s mid-engine 914, the “people’s Porsche” developed with Volkswagen to replace the original 912, had failed to make much headway in the popluar-price sports-car market since its 1970 debut. A substitute was coming, the radical 924. But it wasn’t quite ready yet, so the 912 was brought back to anchor the bottom of the ’76 line while the last 914s quietly exited showrooms.

“The 912E will obviously find favor with those who prefer a slightly more practical and tractable Porsche,” predictedRoad & Track. “It’s a car with almost all the sporting virtues of the more expensive 911S, yet its simpler pushrod 4-cyl. engine should make for better fuel economy and less expensive maintenance than the 911’s six” (though the injection tended to misbehave in cold weather). SAE net horsepower was just 86 at 4900 rpm, torque a more useful 98 pounds/feet at 4000. Curb weight was 2395 pounds, which meant the 912 had somehow picked up 400 extra pounds since ’69. Still,R&T’s11.3-second 0-60 mph time and 115-mph top speed looked good against the observed 23.0-mpg economy.

As a stopgap, the 912E was the single instance of “planned obselence” in Porsche history. Only 2092 were built, but this plus year-only status and the desirable qualities have since made the 912E one of the more collectible four-cylinder Porsches.